National Day of Action-Seattle Testing Boycott

Sorry for the late notice on this, Co-op friends. But in case you haven’t heard… Teachers at the Garfield School in Seattle have been boycotting the mandated administration of the MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) test here in Seattle. This is a WA State mandated standardized test. Garfield teachers say they have been forced to administer this test up to three times a year for kids in grades K-12. They claim that the test-focused curriculum does not support kids’ learning and does not give teachers the kind of useful information that is the test’s stated goal. Despite their vocal objections, the mandate continues unabated.

This week teachers organized a boycott. Substitute teachers were hired to administer the tests. Many parents are supporting the teachers and are pulling their kids out of school this week. Teachers at other schools have joined the boycott in solidarity and many Ed groups have also voiced support including the AFT and the NEA. Please take a look at the ample media coverage. Inform yourself and take whatever action seems appropriate – letters of support are most welcome. People are encouraged to “wear red for ed” today. Here is a place to start. And here. And here too. And don’t forget the Bartleby Project.

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About Paul Freedman

I am the founding Director of The Salmonberry School in Eastsound, WA. I have taught elementary school in public and private settings for the past 19 years. I serve as a contributing editor for Encounter: Education for Meaning and Social Justice (Formerly the Holistic Education Review.) I also serve on the faculty of the Self Design Graduate Institute. I hold an MA in EDU from Goddard College.